Surviving spouse checklist - Vanguard

Surviving spouse checklist

There are a number of steps to take to manage a departed

loved one¡¯s finances. Knowing what to expect and what

you can do will make the transition easier for you.

You can use the following checklist to help organize

your efforts.

Where to look for records

Here are a few places to check for important documents and records:

? Safe deposit box. A bank officer or other official representative may need to

be present to take inventory of the box¡¯s contents.

? Personal files. Many people keep their financial records together in a filing

cabinet or near where they pay the bills.

? Tax returns. Assets may be listed on a recent IRS Form 1040.

? Personal financial management software. If your spouse used financial

management software, the program should have a list of accounts. You can

also review the transaction history.

? Credit reporting agencies. Credit reports will list companies with whom the

deceased did business.

? Mail. Financial institutions will continue to send statements and interest or

dividend checks. Watch for correspondence from banks or investment companies.

? E-mail. Your spouse may have been receiving electronic notifications. Access

e-mail accounts for messages from financial companies.

? Address book. Contact any listed financial institution to find out whether they

held assets for your spouse.

? Computer folders. Search computers for folder names that might pertain to

the estate.

Steps to take

¡õ¡õ Locate your spouse¡¯s legal

documents.

? Will.

? Trust documents.

? Insurance policies.

? Property deeds.

? Automobile titles.

If applicable:

? Divorce settlement and child support

orders from any previous marriage.

? Military discharge papers.

¡õ¡õ Obtain copies of the death

certificate. You generally won¡¯t be

able to do anything regarding your

spouse¡¯s assets without certified

copies of the death certificate. You

can order copies from the funeral

director or government agencies,

such as your state¡¯s Department of

Health or Office of Vital Statistics.

Websites such as *

provide instructions for ordering

death certificates in your state.

¡õ¡õ Locate and review your spouse¡¯s

insurance policies. Contact each

insurance company for information

on claiming benefits.

¡õ¡õ Research Social Security

survivor benefits.

? Contact Social Security

at 800-772-1213.

? Be ready with the Social Security

numbers for you, your spouse, and

any dependent children.

¡õ¡õ Identify your spouse¡¯s financial

assets. These may include bank

and investment accounts, retirement

plans, real estate, certificates of

deposit, and other assets.

? Contact each bank and financial

institution for information on

transferring ownership.

? Research your state¡¯s laws for

transferring ownership of property,

such as real estate.

¡õ¡õ Identify your spouse¡¯s debts. These

may include a mortgage, credit cards,

commercial loans, student loans, and

other forms of debt.

? Contact each creditor to determine

its policies.

? Cancel all credit cards in your

spouse¡¯s name.

¡õ¡õ Contact your spouse¡¯s employer.

? Request information about your

spouse¡¯s retirement plan and any

other death benefits.

? Contact your spouse¡¯s

former employers.

¡õ¡õ Contact your employer.

? Update your beneficiary, tax

withholding, and other information.

¡õ¡õ Change the registration on

any utilities billed in your

spouse¡¯s name.

¡õ¡õ Meet with the estate executor.

? Discuss legal and tax issues.

? Retain an estate attorney licensed in

your spouse¡¯s state of residence.

¡õ¡õ Consult a tax advisor.

*Vanguard is not responsible for the information on third-party sites.

? 2010 The Vanguard Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

BBBBCGXT 102010

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download